Rubia Portillo Realtor

06/04/2026

If you receive advance warning of an emergency, take the time to power up cellphones. Here are some more essential items for your preparations.

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes strike indiscriminately, which means every homeowner should be prepared for life-threatening emergencies. Here are ten essential items to have on hand. A source of power. A generator will keep your refrigerator working to preserve food, and provide ligh...

06/03/2026

Determined to tackle that home painting project? Don't begin your work without checking this list of essential tools for the task.

Painting can be a big job, but with the right tools the task will be easier and the finished product more professional. Here are nine essential tools. Masking tape will keep paint off of adjacent areas where you don’t want it, making your job decidedly easier. Most often this will be masking trim ...

06/01/2026

Did you know that your credit card use and payment history account for 65 percent of your credit score? So use your credit cards wisely and pay bills on time. Learn more credit-boosting tips here.

Do you have bad credit? While legitimate credit repair services can help improve your credit scores, you can do the work yourself and save money. Here’s how. Pull your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. It’s free. Each credit reporting agency, Experian, Equifax and Transunion, will hav...

05/29/2026

Buyers love natural light. Let the light shine in by removing curtains & blinds when staging your home!

05/28/2026

Your backyard pool is a sapphire oasis of fun. Here’s how to surround that gem with easy-to-maintain landscaping that enhances its beauty.

Landscaping around a pool can enhance its beauty and provide privacy. Check out these recommendations for landscaping around a pool.

05/27/2026

Even pet-loving buyers may be turned off by lingering pet odors and damage. Check out this guide to prepare your pet and your house for showings.

When pet owners put their homes up for sale, it’s best to make those beloved animals disappear without a trace. The dog beds, the cat crates, the hair, the chew marks and the smell all need to be removed before the first showing. Here’s a step-by-step guide on selling your home with pets.

05/25/2026

Remember and honor all the brave heroes today who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

05/22/2026

Have a Non-Working Fireplace? Add some logs and lights for an inexpensive, year-round ambiance!

05/21/2026

The Danish hygge lifestyle creates a sense of well-being and peace. Here’s how to bring the hygge state of mind to your home.

A home designed with hygge in mind is a calm oasis for relaxing with family and friends. What is the hygge lifestyle, and how can you live it?

05/20/2026

A clean microfiber cloth is your best tool for keeping that smudge-free shine on stainless steel surfaces. Check out more cleaning tips here to ensure a stainless shine to prep for an Open House.

Stainless steel appliances are gorgeous -- until they’re streaked, smudged and full of fingerprints. Want to keep them looking like they did in the showroom? Here’s how. Warm water with a little dish soap is a great first step. Using a microfiber rag, wipe back and forth with the grain of the br...